TVA Security Lapses Could Endanger US Health, Economy

coondoggie links to a Network World story about myriad security flaws (described in a report from the Governmental Accountability Office) at all levels of the Tennessee Valley Authority, the country's largest public power utility, excerpting: "The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) is a federal corporation that generates power using 52 fossil, hydro and nuclear facilities in an area of about 80,000 square miles and has not fully implemented appropriate security practices to protect the control systems used to operate its critical infrastructures, the GAO concluded. TVA's corporate network infrastructure and its control systems networks and devices at individual facilities and plants reviewed were vulnerable to disruptions that could endanger a good portion of the country's economic security and public health and safety, the GAO said." The TVA is hardly alone, though, when it comes to governmental computer security. Reader bc90021 points out the Federal Government's newly released Computer Security Report Card (prepared for Congressman Tom Davis), which "breaks down the agencies and assigns them all a grade. There are plenty of Fs, not the least of which is for the newly reconnected Department of the Interior."

Comments

Well no wonder

[Sentry21]

No wonder the Department of the Interior is insecure, they're six years behind on their patches!

They'll get it done, just give them a chance to catch up on their e-mail and slashdot first.

Re:Well no wonder

[The Dark]

They'll get it done, just give them a chance to catch up on their e-mail and slashdot first. I think you mean: "They'll get it done, just give them a chance to catch up on your e-mail and slashdot first."

Geez man, get off our backs!

[elrous0]

Look we told you that we're TOTALLY working on it. We're going to get those padlocks just as soon as we get paid this month. And we've got this buddy up in Kentucky, that we helped out at this great fucking party last year, who owes us big. And his brother is like this security wizard. We're talking the fucking security zen MASTER and shit. And he's going to be looking at our network just as soon as he can catch a ride down here. So don't worry bro, we're on it! Just chill for a while, okay? You're really harshing our buzz right now.